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Election option: Early voting begins Monday

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Jane Frick, left, and Stephanie Stroh, temporary workers, sort ballots for early voting from boxes into special cabinets on Friday afternoon at the Denver Election Office.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Jane Frick, left, and Stephanie Stroh, temporary workers, sort ballots for early voting from boxes into special cabinets on Friday afternoon at the Denver Election Office.

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Early voting sites during Colorado's primary season were like ghost towns.

Nobody showed up all week at one polling site in Conifer, and only four votes were cast over those five days at Covenant Village in north Jefferson County.

In two of the largest voter counties in Colorado, only 364 people cast ballots at early voting sites in Jefferson County and 402 people went to the polls during early voting in Arapahoe County.

Despite the dismal summer turnout, election officials are preparing for large crowds when they open early voting sites Monday.

Denver will deploy 15 poll workers and at least four check-in tables at each of its 13 early voting sites, said elections director Michael Scarpello.

"We've got a huge capacity for voters at our early voting sites," he said. With 20 voting booths per site and a long ballot, officials calculate that they can accommodate more than 5,600 voters a day.

Douglas County is adding an 11th polling site and 100 electronic voting machines to the 200 used during early voting in August, said clerk and recorder Jack Arrowsmith.

His county also is aggressively marketing this voting option. They've paid to make calls to about 55,000 voters encouraging them to take advantage of early voting, Arrowsmith said.

Arapahoe County has been advertising the option in mailings to hundreds of thousands of voters, said clerk and recorder Nancy Doty.

Given the expectations of turnout in excess of 90 percent in some areas of Colorado, election officials are hoping many voters will take advantage of early voting.

"I hope the early voting turnout is higher," said Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson. "I hope that a lot of people choose to consider early voting because the ballot is so long."

Election officials said they have no way to predict turnout for the two-week early voting period.

"We have the dynamics of the presidential race that are completely different than we've seen historically," Scarpello said. "To predict voter behavior . . . is treacherous."

In recent years, early voting has dropped in popularity while interest in mail voting has skyrocketed.

In November 2004, one in four votes were cast at early voting sites. That rate dropped 5 percent in the November 2006 election.

County clerks said they hope that the high use of mail voting and early voting will ease pressure on Election Day. All indicators point to record-high turnout, but election officials say they won't know until Nov. 4 comes.

Arrowsmith said he increased capacity for early voting, hoping his marketing will draw more people.

"We're trying to encourage more people to participate," he said, "so if we do, then we'd better be ready to handle it."

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361

Frequently asked questions about early voting

* What is early voting?

It's a way to vote at the polls prior to Election Day. By state law, early voting is conducted for one week before primary elections and for two weeks before general elections.

* When does early voting start?

Monday morning. Hours vary by county. Some open at 7 a.m. and some open as late as 11 a.m., so check with your county clerk for more information.

* Do I go to my neighborhood polling place?

No. By state law early voters may go to any polling site in your county. This is called a "vote center" model.

* Are there the same number of early voting sites as on Election Day?

No, counties open fewer locations. Small counties typically do early voting at the clerk's office. Larger counties will offer up to a dozen or so.

* Will I cast a paper ballot?

In Denver you will vote on paper. But most other counties will use electronic terminals.

* May I vote on the weekend?

Yes, several large counties are offering early voting Saturday, Oct. 25.

* May I drop off my mail ballot at these sites?

Yes, in many cases, you may do this. Check with your county clerk's office.

* When does early voting end?

Friday, Oct. 31. Election officials recommend you do not wait until then because they expect a last-minute rush and lines.

* How do I get more information?

Go to govotecolorado.com, call 303-894-2200 or call your county clerk.

Comments

  • October 18, 2008

    1:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    COnative1966 writes:

    Obama's plan gives welfare to 40% of Americans to "SPREAD THE WEALTH"

    It's not a tax plan, it's a welfare plan. "Under the Obama plan 63 million Americans, or 44% of all tax filers, would have no income tax liability and most of those would get a check from the IRS each year."

    Every time Obama says "95% of Americans will pay less taxes" he's not being truthful since 44% of Americans already pay no taxes. How can you get a tax cut if you don't pay taxes?

    Obama's 95% plan is socialist income redistribution, not a tax plan.

    Wall Street Journal - Obama tax plan is 95% Illusion
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12238...[/b]

  • October 18, 2008

    9:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Pat_Smith writes:

    I’ve used the VA since 1979, and it has been underfunded, understaffed, and mismanaged for many decades. The last three years the VA has started showing improvement, and with no thanks to this congress loading the VA bills with back door pork and earmarks. Senator McCain opposed the new GI Bill until the educational benefits could be passed to the children or spouse of the veteran. This added billions more in cost to our government and we should be thanking McCain for this with our votes. With problems like these all veteran’s need McCain’s experience; not Obama’s promises, higher taxes, and an even larger government.

    All our active duty military deserve the best Commander In Chief and veterans also deserve the best. McCain knows were he’s been and knows the way our country must go…As a fellow veteran have you also been walking down that lonely street of dreams? Well it is time to stop hanging on to Obama’s socialist promises of yesterday, and waste no more time; walk alongside John McCain in bipartisan unity…

    Whitesnake; Here I Go Again – Go with McCain
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTiwC...

  • October 19, 2008

    7:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    zebranger writes:

    Hate Socialism, huh COnative? How about that Bush bailout plan for the mortgage companies? Seems like a socialist move to me. The US government now owns a percentage of the banking industry! If this was the Dems doing the same thing for healthcare, there would be an outrage! Obama IS being truthful, it's just the right wingers and racists trying to twist words and lie their way into the top office by slandering the man who will lead us back to international respect and a balanced budget- OBAMA 08!

  • October 19, 2008

    6:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brix57 writes:

    Now is the time to reclaim the country from the career politicians that have made such a mess of things and get new fresh faces. Vote the incumbents out since they have spent our future tax dollars to bail out the wealthy and the incompetent.

  • October 19, 2008

    8:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    sorry to bother you Mr. Obama, Sir
    Excuse me Mr. Obama, I mean Senator Obama, sir. Um . . know you are busy and important and stuff. I mean running for president is very important and . . . ah . . I hate to bother you. I will only take a minute ok, sir?
    See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering sir, if you could take time out of your busy schedule and help me out. You know, no big deal, just some loose ends and things.
    I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be 'locked' or 'not available'. I'm sure it's just some oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are . . . I . . I . . . have them written down here somewhere . . . oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I'll just read it to you.
    Could you help me please find these things, sir?
    1. Occidental College records -- Not released
    2. Columbia College records -- Not released
    3. Columbia Thesis paper -- not available, locked down by faculty
    4. Harvard College records -- Not released, locked down by faculty
    5. Selective Service Registration -- Not released
    6. Medical records -- Not released
    7. Illinois State Senate schedule -- 'not available'
    8. Law practice client list -- Not released
    9. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate - - Not released
    10. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth -- Not released
    11. Harvard Law Review articles published -- None
    12. University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None
    13. Your Record of baptism-- Not released or 'not available'
    14. Your Illinois State Senate records--'not available'
    You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience
    You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days of experience of being a surgeon.
    You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
    You couldn't join the military and become a colonel after 143 days of experience.
    You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
    BUT....

    'From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After
    143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World .... 143 days.

    We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start.

    AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America ? Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!

  • October 19, 2008

    8:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Uno writes:

    Nice work Gary,
    oBSama should step down now, he's an embarrassment to the whole country.

  • October 19, 2008

    9:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    me2 writes:

    Get out and vote early so those who do not have all day to vote can do so.

    Please don't vote for folks who pal around with secessionists.

  • October 19, 2008

    9:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Speak writes:

    Anybody keeping an eye on Acorn in Colorado.
    If Colorado Dems start voting on Monday how many votes
    (Per person) can Acorn rake in for them by November 4th?

  • October 19, 2008

    10:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    PonchoVia writes:

    Obama's health plan does not tax your health insurance like McCain's plan does.

    Vote Obama '08.

  • October 19, 2008

    10:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cowboy63 writes:

    Speak -

    I hear ACORN already has 10,000 corpses lined up and waiting to vote first thing in the morning.

  • October 19, 2008

    10:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    PonchoVia writes:

    McCain would tax your health insurance benefit for the first time in history. I don't want my health insurance benefit taxed. I'm voting for Obama who will lower income taxes for 95% of American workers.

  • October 19, 2008

    10:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Speak writes:

    Cowboy63 thanks for the update
    I see NOBama delivered on schedule to ACORN...

    Remember this:
    "In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died—an entire town destroyed," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people packed into a sweltering Richmond art studio for a fundraiser".

  • October 20, 2008

    11:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    johnierocket203 writes:

    Make sure to vote. Landslide is on the way!

    Obama 08